The pedestrian who was fatally run over this week while crossing a busy Brooklyn Park street before sunrise was identified as a 55-year-old woman who lived near the crash scene.
Louise I. Bakken, 55, was hit by a westbound car about 6:30 a.m. Wednesday while crossing 85th Avenue at Adair Avenue, about a quarter-mile from her home.
Police Lt. Eric Nelson said that intersection has no stop signs, traffic lights or marked crosswalks. Nelson said it's not clear yet whether Bakken was at the corner when she stepped into 85th from the north.
The driver "said he didn't see her, basically, until upon impact," Nelson said. "It's really just a tragic accident."
Nelson said it appears the driver, who stopped immediately and cooperated with officers, "was doing everything right, wasn't texting or fiddling around" in the car. Also, the lieutenant added, the driver was not under the influence of alcohol.
Bakken was employed by the Star Tribune. She began her career with the newspaper in 1979 and worked in various accounting roles. She was promoted to payment application supervisor in 2005. She is survived by a husband and three adult sons.
Paul Walsh • 612-673-4482
